INTRODUCTION

The Royal Enfield Bullet was originally a British overhead valve single cylinder four-stroke
motorcycle made by Royal Enfield in Redditch, Worcestershire, now produced by Royal Enfield
Motors, the successor to the British company, at Chennai, Tamil Nadu, in India. The Royal Enfield
Bullet has the longest production run of any motorcycle having remained continuously in
production since 1948.[1][2] The Bullet marque is even older, and has passed 75 years of
continuous production. The Royal Enfield and Bullet names derive from the company's links with
the Royal Small Arms Factory in Enfield, London.[2]

Evolution[edit]
The Bullet has evolved from a four-valve engine with exposed valve-gear to the latest all-alloy
unit construction engine with electronic fuel-injection.

19311939[edit]

Royal Enfield Bullet

Manufacturer Royal Enfield, UK

Production 19311939

Successor Royal Enfield Bullet

Engine 346 cc & 499 cc single cylinder OHV

Introduced in 1931 as a four-stroke single cylinder motorcycle, this model was the first to feature
the Bullet name. It differed in a number of ways from its successors (which are now familiar): it
had an inclined engine with exposed valve gear featuring four valves per cylinder with 350 cc
and 500 cc options. In 1933, a 250 cc option was also added to the range.[3] Its frame was also
considerably different, having centre-spring girder front forks, being among a new range of
models from Royal Enfield that featured them, along with a saddle-type fuel tank. However,
common to motorcycles of this period, it had a rigid rear-end, necessitating a 'sprung' seat for
the rider, which resulted in the iconic look of the motorcycle that is much replicated today, even
though the sprung seat is unnecessary in modern models.

After competition success the 350 cc Royal Enfield Bullet was bought by the British Army for
dispatch riders and 3,000 were also supplied to the RAF during the Second World War.
19391949[edit]

Royal Enfield Bullet

Manufacturer Royal Enfield, UK

Production 19391948

Successor Royal Enfield Bullet 350

Engine 346 cc single cylinder OHV

This model refreshed Royal Enfield's model line-up for 1939. It differed in cosmetic details, as
well as in having two rocker boxes, which resulted in higher volumetric efficiency for the engine.
The basic design with front girder forks was retained.

19491956[edit]

Royal Enfield Bullet

Manufacturer Royal Enfield, UK

Production 19481956

Successor Royal Enfield Bullet 350/500

Engine 346 cc & 499 cc single cylinder OHV

A number of changes were implemented in order to bring the bike up-to-date. This model
featured a vertical engine with alloy head and higher compression. The frame was changed to a
fully sprung design using a swing-arm with non-adjustable hydraulic shockers at the rear, while
the front used a brand-new telescopic fork of Royal Enfield's own design. This enabled the
introduction of a bench seat made of simple foam and with no large springs. Power transmission
was via the same four-speed Albion gearbox as the previous model, with a unique 'neutral-
finder' lever the rider could press from any gear other than first to shift to neutral. The
crankshaft continued to have a fully floating big-end bearing. The headlight assembly was
enclosed with the speedometer and ammeter into a nacelle, which also served as the
attachment of the front suspension as well as the handlebars. An otherwise similar model, but
with engine displacement of 499 cc, made its debut in 1953.

The prototype had done well in a performance trial and went on to win the trophy[4] at the
1948 International Six Days Trial and two Bullet riders won gold medals.[5] In 1952 Johnny
Brittain won the Scottish Six Days Trial on a Royal Enfield Bullet and in 1953 he also won the
International Six Days Trial without losing a single point.[1]

In 1949, the Indian Army ordered Royal Enfield Bullets for border patrol use and the company
decided to open a factory in Madras. In 1955, the 350 cc Bullets were sent from the Redditch
factory in kit form for assembly in India, but Enfield India Ltd. soon developed the factory and
produced complete motorcycles independently under licence. The 1955 model remained almost
unchanged for years and Madras produced over 20,000 Bullets annually.[3]

19561964[edit]

Royal Enfield Bullet

Manufacturer Royal Enfield, UK

Production 19561964

Successor Royal Enfield Bullet 350/500

Engine 346 cc & 499 cc single cylinder OHV

In 1955, Royal Enfield carried out some retooling and redesign at their Redditch plant, in the UK,
to modernise the Bullet, and in 1959 some changes were made to the gear ratios. These
changes, however, were not incorporated by the Indian arm due to its commitment to supply the
Indian Army. Thus the British and Indian lines diverged, never to meet again.

Between 1956 and 1960, the British Bullet was released in several models, including a 350 cc
Trials "works replica" version, a 350 cc "Clipper" model and in 1958 the Airflow version. This
model had full weather protection from a large fibreglass fairing and included panniers for
touring. The design was developed in partnership with British Plastics and featured as a series in
The Motor Cycle magazine.[6] The engines were the same and the only differences were in
exhaust, seating, instrumentation, handlebars and fuel tank. Numerous technical improvements
were also made, including moving to alternator charging (1956) and coil ignition (1960). The 350
cc model continued in production, but the 500 cc model was discontinued in 1961. In 1962, the
UK company was sold and the Bullet discontinued and in 1967, the Redditch factory closed.
Finally, in 1970, Royal Enfield closed down completely.[7]

Additional to the 'separate gearbox' Bullet the Royal Enfield Redditch factory produced
approximately 250 'unit construction' (integral gearbox) Bullets bikes known as 'New Bullets'.
[citation needed] Produced in five batches of fifty between 1963 and 1965 these models were
essentially a 350 Crusader.[citation needed] However, unlike their 'one piece cranked' smaller
sibling the New Bullet had a built up crank and the traditional Bullet bore and stroke dimensions
under a Crusader cylinder head.[citation needed] These bikes are difficult to identify as being
different from the Crusader. Look for a ten finned barrel on a Crusader and you will have found a
New Bullet. By necessity the tool box air intake slot is also a little higher.[citation needed] Other
variations from the unit 250 include a 46 tooth rear sprocket, an outrigger bearing on the
primary side crankcase a four plate clutch and wider gear cogs. The petrol tank is similar to the
earlier unit range item (not the Clipper tank) but has a larger cut out on the underside to clear
the taller motor making it 1/4 gallon light on capacity. A New Bullet was modelled for sale to the
army and carried panniers and a 'speedo-only' style of caskette. According to RE data 232 of
these bikes were produced making them a very rare and desirable machine today.

19651995[edit]